§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action his Department is taking in response to representations by the London Boroughs Association and London boroughs concerning reform of section 169 and schedule 8 to the Town and Country Planning Act 1971.
§ Sir George YoungThe matter is under active consideration.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many formal representations he has received from London boroughs regarding section 169 and schedule 8 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 in each of the last three years;
(2) what representations regarding 10 per cent. rule applications he has received from local amenity societies.
§ Sir George YoungAt various times in the last three years, representations have been received from the London boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Kensington and Chelsea, and Westminster, from the Ladbroke Association, the Belsize Residents Association, the Bedford Park Society, the Cherry Trees Residents' Amenities Association and the Highgate Society.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to safeguard conservation areas affected by 10 per cent. rule permissions.
§ Sir George YoungIn considering an application for planning permission to which section 169 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 relates, the local planning authority will wish to take account of all material factors, including the location of the premises in a conservation area where this is the case.
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§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many 10 per cent. rule applications, under section 169 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, have been granted despite more than 10 local objections in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Sir George YoungThis information is not centrally available, since the Department is not normally involved when a local authority decides to grant planning permission.
§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provisions he is prepared to make to assist local planning authorities faced with costs implied by 10 per cent. rule applications.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend has no proposals for giving financial assistance in these circumstances. Compensation paid following the refusal of planning permission is part of the costs of operating the planning system, and those costs, being primarily for the benefit of the area concerned, are appropriately borne locally.